Storage tank



- Aug. 18, 19 25.

E. C. IMMEL STORAGE TANK Filed Sept. 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 18, 1925.

E. C. IMMEL STORAGE TANK Filed Sept. 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JIIIUIIAIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA mm Patented Aug. 18, 1925 UNITED STATES} 1,549,878 PATENT OFFICE.

*ELMOND c. mum, or worse, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOB or ONE-FOURTH 'ro Enwm x.

BOTH, or TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

szronaen TANK.

Application filed September 4, 1924. Serial No. 735,918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMOND C. IMMEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tnlsa,"in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage Tanks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw This invention relates to improvements in storage tanks, and more particularly to an improvement in the construction of knockdown storage tanks. 1

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is capable of being completely salvaged and which has no parts which are destroyed in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved joint between tank sectionsof such character that sealing of the joint maybe eifected by means oi clamping wedges or the like, thus eliminating the use of bolts. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved wedge clamp for use in construction of joints of this character.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily and cheaply produced, which will be efiicient in service and a general improvement in the art to which it pertains.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a section of a tank constructed in accordance with my invention, showing two types of the clamps em loyed;

igure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a slightly modified clamp;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through one of the clamps shown in Figure 1 in applied position;

Fi ure 4 is a combined perspective showing t e structure of the clamps employed in sealing the two-part joint;

Figure, 5' is a' longitudinal sectional view through the type of clamp shown in Fig- 1 ure 4- Figilre 6 is a perspective view of the body of the clamp employed in tightening the three-part joint;

Fi ure 7 is a combined perspective view showing the various parts of the clamp such as employed in sealing. a relatively long two-partjoint;

Figure 8 is a perspective of the packing employed.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a portion of one of the sections and an edge ange thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the Wall of the tank is formed of sections which may be either curved or straight as is found desirable. The sections, which are indicatedby thenumerallO, have each about their margins flanges 11, the angle of these flanges to the sections being preferably determined by a bisection of the angle formed between adjacent sections. That is to say, if the sections are flat and arranged in the same plane. the angle of the flange to the section would be a right angle such as is employed in the present instance for, the purpose of illustration. Each of these flanges is provided midway its ends with a longitudinally extending groove or channel 12 formed by pressing the metal of the flange to provide at the opposite side of the flange a rib 13.

Between adj acent faces of coacting flanges 11 a packing 14 is disposed. This packing consists of a plurality of layers of rubberized fabric 15 secured together and of the same width as the flanges 11. Midway its width between the central layers a cord filler 16 is disposed to provide an enlargement of the packing at a point corresponding to the grooves 12, and which enlargement is adapted toenter into the grooves 12. It will be seen that this enlargement entering the grooves will prevent transverse displacement of the packing, with relation to the flanges, and will at all times maintain proper alignment between the same. In combination with a device of this character I employ wedge clamps for clamping the entire surface of the flanges 11 against the packing. These clamps may be of different types, and in the present instance three different types are illustrated numbered as 17, 18 and 19.

The clamp 17 comprises a body portion 20 having at its side edges flanges 21 and 22. The flange 21 has a flat face adapted to engage against a coacting. flange 11 of the section 10, this face being provided at a point properly spaced from the free edge thereof with a groove 23 receiving the rib 13 of the flange with which the clamp coacts. The flange 22 has its inner face spaced from the adjacent face of the flange 21, throughout its length, a distance greater than the combined thicknesses of the packing 14 and the two coacting flanges 11 and has this opposing face inclining toward the flange 21 from one end thereof toward the other. erably provided with an outstanding rib or shoulder 24, the face of which is inclined similarly to the inclinationof the inclined face 22 of the flange. Coaoting with this clamp is a wedge-key 25, one face of which is flat and adapted to engage a coacting flange 11 and has properly spaced from its edge a groove 26 receiving the rib 13 of the coacting flange. The base of this groove is provided with corrugations 27, the shoulders of which face toward/the large end of the key. The opposite face of the wedge is flat and smooth and has an inclination similar to the inclination of the inclined face 22. The lower end of this inclining face has formed therein a rabbet 28 receiving the rib 24 of the flange 22. It will be obvious that when the wedge-key is driven home, so that the space between the adjacent faces of the flanges 11 is reduced .to the greatest possible extent, retraction of the wedge will be resisted by seating of the corrugations 27 upon the rib. This seating, however, will not be such as to prevent withdrawal of the key or such as to destroy the rib when the key is withdrawn.

In the construction of the tank, the joints between sections are preferably staggered, that is to say, two sections 10 in side to side relation preferably have their. joint which abuts a third section disposed substantially midway of such third section, as more clearly shown in Figure 1. The clamp 18 is for the purpose of sealing the triple joint thus formed between these sections and is' similar to the clamp 17, with the exception of the fact that the body portion 20 is continued beyond the end of the flanges 21 and 22 at which the adjacent faces of the flanges most nearly approach one another as shown. The ends of the flanges 21 and 22 are then provided with aligned grooves 29 for engagement with the ribs of their respective sections 10 which they overlie and of those flanges of these sections at right angles and adjoining the sections which extend between adjacent faces of the flanges 21 and 22. The end of the extended portion 20 of the body portion isthen provided with a third flange 30 corresponding in construction and function to the flange 22,. and this flange has coacting therewith a wedge-key 31 similar to the wedge- The lower end of this flange is prefkey 25 hereinbefore described. It will be seen that with these wedge-keys 25 and 21 driven home a tight joint will be effected at the triple connection and this triple connection sealed. The type of key shown at 19 is preferably employed where there are long spaces on the flange 11 to be clamped together and is a modification of the structure of the clamp 17 particularly adapted for this purpose. This clamp consists ofa C-shaped body, onearm of which has at its end an outstanding rib 32, the other arm of which is provided intermediate its ends with a transverse groove 33, the base of which is inclined toward the arm bearing the rib 32. Coacting with the arm hearing the rib 32 is an elongated slab34, the outer face of which has a rabbet 35 for coaction with the rib 32. The inner face of this slab has a groove 36 for coaction with the-rib of the engaged flange 11. Against the opposite arm is arranged a second slab 37 provided centrally upon its outer face with a rib 38 increasing in depth from end to -end, and the inner face of this slab has a groove 39 for the reception of the rib 32. It will be obvious that these slabs may be made of any length in which it is found that the material employed is of sufficient strength to resist strain to a' point where the effectiveness of the seal is impaired.

Since obviously the construction of all of the clamps as described and illustrated is capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not limit myself to such specific structure as hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In a tank structure and in combination, adjacent sections of a tank each provided at the edges thereof with upstanding flanges, the flanges being each formed upon the face thereof adapted for coaction with the flange of a second section with a groove, the grooves aligning when the sections are in assembled relation, a packing disposed between and-extending entirely across said flanges, said packing being provided with an enlargement entering and filling said groove, means for clamping the flanges together uponvthe packing, the inner faces of the flanges having ribs corresponding to said grooves, said clamping means comprising a body having two arms adapted to receive the joint therebetween, one of said arms being formed to provide a roove for the reception of the rib of one of t e flan es. the other of said arms having the ace thereof disposed next adjacent the first named arm inclining toward the first named arm from. side to side, and a wedge having a corresponding inclination adapted to engage between the last named arm and the adjacent flange, said wedge having the face thereof opposing the first named arm provided with a groove and receiving the rib of the flange.

2. In a tank structure and in combination, adjacent sections of a tank each provided at the edges thereof with upstanding flanges, the flanges being each formed upon the face thereof adapted for coaction with the flange of a second section with a groove, the grooves aligning whenthe sections are in assembled relation, a packing disposed between and extending entirely across said flanges, said packing being provided with an enlargement entering and filling said groove, means for clamping the flanges together upon the packing, the inner faces of the flanges having ribs corresponding to said grooves, said clamping means comprising a the joint therebetween, one of said arms being formed to provide a groove for the reception of the rib of one of the flan es, the other of said arms having the ace thereof disposed next adjacent the first named arm inclining toward the first named arm from side to side, and a wedge having a correspondin inclination adapted to engage between t e last named arm and the adjacent flange, said wedge having the face thereof opposing the first named arm provided with a groove and receiving the rib of the flange, the base of said groove being formed with shallow teeth facing toward the larger end .of the wedge.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoaflix my signature.

ELMOND C. IMMEL. 

